Spay/neuter clinic protection bill leaps a big hurdle (Joey Kennedy)

Veterinarian Joy Baird spays Rosey at the North Alabama Spay and Neuter Clinic in Huntsville in this file photo from August 2013. (Eric Schultz / eschultz@al.com)

Alabama animal advocates had a nervous Wednesday morning before the Senate Health Committee considered HB 141, the spay/neuter clinic protection bill. Word on the street was that some committee members who had previously supported the bill were now against it.

But when all was said and done, the bill passed committee 8-4, including the unusual yes vote from Senate pro tem Del Marsh, who can vote in all committees. All committee members were present, which is unusual in itself. What this indicates is that supporters of the bill, which will keep the state's four nonprofit spay/neuter clinics open, made sure their senators knew how they felt.

"Yesterday was a pretty good day," said Mindy Gilbert, state director of the Humane Society of the United States. "That is the first time in several years that I've seen every member of the committee present. It's a tribute to the people who really care about this issue to reach out to their senators. The next battle is getting it to the Senate floor and getting it through the Senate. That will be a challenge."

Kudos to Sens. Greg Reed, Jabo Waggoner, Slade Blackwell, Cam Ward, Linda Coleman, Harri Anne Smith, Jerry Fielding and Marsh. They made the right decision, where the health and well-being of Alabama's dogs and cats are concerned.

What these people overlook is that many of those who use the nonprofits spay/neuter clinics would not have their pets fixed in the first place. The clinics have lowered the number of dogs and cats that are ending up in shelters and rescues (and, many times, are put down).

Sen. Paul Bussman, R-Cullman

Bussman, from Cullman, is perhaps the most vocal Senate opponent of this bill. In the past, he's threatened to filibuster the bill. It can't be overlooked that just since September, Bussman has received thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from ASBVME members Robert Pittman (the president), Ronald Welch, the AVPOA and other veterinarians who oppose low-cost spay/neuter options, according to campaign finance records.

The only way to get the state's companion animal population under control is through effective spay/neuter efforts, including trap, spay/neuter and release programs.

Yet some politicians and veterinarians would rather see more than 100,000 healthy, adoptable animals euthanized each year in Alabama than allow nonprofit spay/neuter clinics to exist.

That shame is on them.

Gilbert and others are worried that if the bill gets to the Senate floor, Bussman, at the behest of his sponsors, will offer an amendment that will be so restrictive that it'll lose support of animal advocates.

"We have our work cut out for us," Gilbert said. "Ultimately, we want the same fair chance that every other bill should get: A fair vote. There are nonprofit clinics in 30 states. These clinics pay a variety of taxes."

And they serve an important, vital service.

Theoretically, Gilbert said, the bill could come up for a vote on Tuesday. Realistically, it has to get on the calendar through the Rules Committee, which is chaired by Waggoner. And for it to have any chance, Marsh needs to become a champion.

"Del Marsh has been very good on animal issues and on spay/neuter," Gilbert said. "Cam Ward has indicated he'll carry it in the Senate if it gets on the calendar."

So perhaps the spay/neuter clinic protection bill will make it. But supporters can't stop lobbying their lawmakers.

Gilbert suggests supporters of the bill email their senators, identify themselves as a voter in their district and make sure they understand spay/neuter is very important. And get, on the record, their position on the bill.

"We don't want to beat up on the members we know are against us," Gilbert said. "What we need to work on rapidly are the folks who may not have a position."

Phone calls asking for a call-back are also encouraged. And calls to the district office, if it exists, are important.

Gilbert points out that most lawmakers are on Facebook as well.

"These are a bunch of guys walking up and down the halls (of the State House) with a smart phone," Gilbert said. "They are looking for something short and snappy. They're not people who are going to be sitting at a desk opening emails."

As far as the spay/neuter clinic protection bill has come, it's got a long way to go. If this is an issue that's important to you -- and it should be -- you have work to do.

Joey Kennedy,
a Pulitzer Prize-winner, is a community engagement specialist for Alabama Media
Group, AL.com and The Birmingham News. Reach him at jkennedy@al.com.